The National Coordinator, New Partnership for African’s Development (NEPAD), Mrs Gloria Akobundu, says the name has been changed to African Union Development Agency (AUDA) to drive infrastructural development in the continent.
Akobundu, who doubles as the Chief Executive of the agency, disclosed this at the inauguration of the committee on repositioning and restructuring of AUDA in Nigeria.
“This change of name impacts the operations of NEPAD, this is the decisions of the heads of states to make NEPAD more useful to the society.
“Mr President, in order to make NEPAD an agency that carries out its function, approves its domestication with expanded mandates.
“Nigeria is one of the initiating countries and we have to set the pace and that is the step the president has taken by authorising the domestication of the new name of NEPAD.”
She explained that the decision to change the name from NEPAD to AUDA was taken in 2018 and was officially adopted and launched in 2019 AU summit.
She said that NEPAD was mandated to identify and work with partners in the public and private sectors in order to facilitate, promote and monitor the implementation of NEPAD programmes with a view to eradicate poverty.
Akobundu said that NEPAD was transformed into AUDA with expanded mandate which include strengthening the capacity of African Union member-states and regional bodies.
“Also to coordinate and execute priority regular and continental projects to promote regions integration towards the accelerated realisation of agenda 2063.
“To undertake the full range of resources mobilisation, advance knowledge-based advisory support and serve as the continent’s technical interface with all African’s development stakeholders and development partners.”
She said that the mandate would allow mobilisation of more resources, bring coherence and interaction between Africa, African Union and development partners.
According to her, the rationale behind the establishment of AUDA as the technical body of the African Union is that it shall be a vehicle for the better execution of the African Union Agenda 2063.
Akobundu said that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has approved the following organisation as members of the repositioning committee on AUDA, to include NEPAD Nigeria, Office of the Secretary of the Federation (OSGF).
She said others include Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Federal Ministry of Justice and Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
She said that the committee had been assigned with the following Terms of Reference to develop strategies for the implementation of AUDA Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives.
“And to draw up a policy framework for the repositioning, restructuring of NEPAD to AUDA prior to the new mandate for effective and efficient operations among others.’’
Mr Chemize Ogei, the Director, African Union Division, Federal Ministry of Foreign said that the programme would not only be on national or state level but on rural areas.
He said that the committee would work out plans to ensure effective implementation of the new AUDA expanded mandate in the country. (NAN)
